R. Summera and Vijaya Ramesh K
There are problems finding ways to completely degrade low density polyethylenes with the help of biotic or abiotic agents. Lately, many reports are being generated regarding microorganisms that could be used to degrade the compound. We have isolated a halophilic alpha proteobacteria from salt pans around Chennai, South India. This organism probably produces an extracellular enzyme that helps in the biodegradation. The detailed FTIR analysis of the test sample inoculated with the organism reveals some promising changes in the bond lengths and double bond formation leading to the strengthening of the evidences for the biodegradation. For the first time changes in fingerprint regions in the FTIR graphs have pointed out some definite changes in the treated LDPE film. This is a first report on the degradative ability of alpha proteobacteria against LDPE.
